benton county historical society and museum …mnbentonhistory.org/pdf/2010sepnews.pdfthe history of...
TRANSCRIPT
BCHS Board Meetings are held
the Third Tuesday of every month
at 6:30pm unless otherwise posted
at the Museum.
2010 Meeting Schedule:
(Tentative Schedule that may change due to weather or
Board motion)
September 21, 2010 (Annual Meeting)
October 19, 2010
November 16, 2010
December 21, 2010
President; Ernie Wollak
Vice President: Char Dhein
Treasurer: Renee Kampa
Secretary: Melissa Keller
Director: Earl ―Butch‖ Bukowski
Director: Pat Gerchy
Director: Bud Lubbesmeier
Director: Randy Schafer
Director: Merle Stowe
Benton County Historical Society Board Members
P.O. Box 426
218 1st St. N.
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
Phone: 320-253-9614
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnbchsmusm
B E NT ON C OUNTY H ISTOR IC AL
SOC IET Y AND M USE UM
PRESERVING THE PAST AND THE PRESENT FOR THE FUTURE....
Www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnbchsmusm
Lyndon Johnson’s Agate Collection
New Museum Display starting Sept. 13th
NewsLines
Lyndon Johnson is a resident of Benton County that has been collecting
agates for 17 years! Lyndon is very knowledgeable in agates and has
brought into the museum his collection of agates and fossils. Although
each gemstone is unique in coloring, size and pattern, he also has an
―arrowhead‖ agate ( one of only two known to exist-found in Sauk Rap-
ids) as part of the collection he is showing. 98% of his collection has
been personally found in Benton County and it is a real testament to the
local history of gravel, mining, granite quarrying, and agriculture.
Lyndon has contacted the Guinness Book of World Records because his
collection of agates is one of the largest in the nation and possibly in the
world. He was featured in the St. Cloud Times in October of 2003, we
had some of his collection at the Benton County Fair in August and he,
and the agates were popular!
We are trying something new at the Benton County Historical Society
Museum by looking for community members with collections of items
that are part of the ―Good Ole’ Days‖ of people’s memories. We are fea-
turing Lyndon's collection at the museum starting on September 13,
2010. The collection will be here for about 2 months for everyone to
see and enjoy. Lyndon will available for contact and information for
anyone that would like more information on the collection.
Lyndon Johnson will also be doing a short presentation at our Annual Meeting on September 21, 2010 on
the history of agates and the popularity.
Collecting agates was one of the items that people remember whether working the field, walking the rail-
road tracks, or just finding them on the gravel roads. Glacier movement moved these rocks into a variety
of areas in Minnesota and it is why we find Lake Superior type agates in this area. In the past, present and
into the future, people have smiled at finding those agates which are a nature-made art forms. We hope to
see you at the museum while the display is here!
BENTON COUNTY H I STORICAL SO CIETY AND MUSEUM
Lyndon Johnson pictured with part of his agate collection
September 2010
Agate (pronounced /ˈæɡət/) is a microcrystalline variety of quartz silica chiefly chalcedony, characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks but can be common in certain metamorphic rocks.
Although the weather was HOT most of the week, ( and the volunteers are probably shak-
ing their heads ―Yes‖ and are agreeing with that!) we had a great time visiting with every-
one that came to our booth during the Fair!
Our theme for the booth was the ―Good Ole’ Days‖ and we put together a display with a
variety of items.
Part of the display was information on the History of Canning Jars and the canning food
process. There were 1858 jars, 1880 jar styles, lightning top jars (wire and bail tops), col-
ored canning jars, glass and metal ring tops, and of course the Ball blue jars! We also dis-
tributed recipes for homemade sauerkraut (and how to do it with crocks or jars) and had
available a newspaper article of Marge Lavigne 's rhubarb recipes that was published. Peo-
ple were reading the history, asking questions and there were a lot of comments on the list
of 325 Brands of canning jars available. We also had
the kraut cutter with a crock, the hot water bath and
a 1940’s gauge pressure canner. There was also quite a
few questions on canning for today’s world!
To the right: Volunteers Andy and Bob Schwalboski with visitors→
The ―Good Ole Days‖ also involved activities and hobbies that everyone could participate
in at a low cost. Agate Collecting is one of the items that everyone remembered! Lyndon
Johnson was at our booth with part of his collec-
tion of agates and they were popular! Seems that
everyone that visited our booth had at one time or
another has had a few agates in their possession or
found one while walking! We heard quite a few sto-
ries about walking the railroad tracks, gravel roads
and working the fields! Talk about good memories!
Picture To Left: Lyndon Johnson and visitors to see the agates!
Benton County Fair
Page 2 NewsLines
The Annual Meeting of the Benton County Historical Society will be Sep-
tember 21, 2010. We have had good attendance holding the Annual Meet-
ing at the Museum the past couple of years, so, the Board of Directors have
decided to hold it here again!
Lyndon Johnson will do a short presentation on the history of his agate dis-
play and answer any questions that people in attendance may have.
The evening’s events will be 6:00 light supper (sandwiches salad, chips and
beverage will start to be served) with social time, 6:30pm Board of Directors
meeting with election of Board members and agenda business items, and a
short presentation by Lyndon Johnson after the business meeting.
Name: __________________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________
City:________________ State:______________________ Zip code:________
Number attending_______ Money Enclosed:________ $6.00 cost per person
6:00pm Light Supper (croissant sandwiches, salad, chip, beverage-water & coffee
Tuesday, September 21, 2010– Board member Elections and Lyndon Johnson Speaker
Many Thanks to the Retired Educator’s listed for staffing the schoolhouse:
Judy Rotto and family Anne Desmond Marge Bates Dorothy Olson Beulah Rose Hutchins
Helen Bauer Dorothy Fridgen The Draglands Marge Bookenoogen Dorothy Olson
Ginny Bisek Floyd & Linda Ayers Frank & Rosemary Roehl Mike Thomas Pat Hill
Marilyn Savage Joann Carlin Ruth Knutson Richard & Elaine Balder Barbara Hill
Fran Hillrowen Joyce Wittenhagen Alice Raeter John Augustin Eunice Cross Haidako Wolfer
Carolyn Garven Curt Hutchens Mary Alice Tomporowski Connie Lewandowski
Annual Meeting September 21, 2010
Page 7
Come join us!
Annual Meeting Registration
Benton County Watab 2 Schoolhouse
Hello Everyone!
Seems like the Summer of 2010 has just gone way too fast! It’s been amaz-
ing how the hot days have become so much cooler so quickly!
We managed to have some fun at the Benton County Fair booth this year!
(even with the heat!)There were over 4000 people that stopped by our booth
to chit-chat about the canning jars, agates, historical preservation of East
St. Cloud and share some stories about memories of times past.
I am not surprised at the interest in the canning jars and canning food process. History re-
peats itself and people are renewing an interest in food preservation, more natural food with
gardening, and getting back to some old skills; new again!
The agate collection was great and there was many a story heard of the most ―valuable agate
finds‖ from fields (picking rocks), railroad tracks (jumping railroad cars), and gravel pits! (a
variety of activities went on in the pits according to the tellers of the stories!) Lyndon John-
son has a great collection and its presence at our fair booth was greatly appreciated! Stop by
and see his complete collection here at the Museum.
We have some of the best volunteers known to mankind! My schedule was not filled when the
fair started, but volunteers stopped by the booth to see what I had open and then took the
shifts that were open! My words cannot convey the appreciation I have for the volunteers
that helped staff the booth, so I will just say ―THANK YOU‖.
A HUGE thank you to the donators, volunteers and all people who support history in Benton
County. There are a lot of great people who have and share information on families, histori-
cal events, businesses, church and cemetery records. We will continue to work with everyone
we can to preserve the past, for the present and the future! Mary Ostby
The Retired Educators staffed the Watab District Number 2 Schoolhouse at the fair again
this year! Over 4000 people visited the schoolhouse this year and WJON did an interview
with Joyce Wittenhagen about the history and the schoolhouse programming.
The schoolhouse brings fond memories to education from years gone by. The teachers are
amazing and it is truly a beautiful sight to see the smiles of grandparents and parents bring-
ing their children in to see the ―good ole’ days‖ and explain country school to the young
ones. Thank you to all the educator’s that support this project!
If you are a teacher that has interest in joining us in staffing the schoolhouse for next year,
please year, please call us at 253-9614 and I can put you in touch with Joyce Wittenhagen.
Executive Director’s Corner
Page 6 NewsLines
Watab Number 2 Schoolhouse
Trees are your best antiques
Alexander Smith
Benton County Fair (continued)
Page 3
Pictured to the right is the Red Board of “Good Ole Days” newspaper articles →
We had a ―Red Board‖ of historical newspaper articles
featuring agricultural, hunting and leisure activities.
Marge LaVigne was pictured with her rhubarb patch, the
Pickle Factory in Foley , Fairview Farms (Koep farm) in
Sauk Rapids, Tobacco crops, Chris Stauffenecker with the
sturgeon; just to name a few.
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota joined our booth display at the Benton County Fair for
2010 because one of the 10 projects that are on the Endangered Historic Places is the pro-
posed University Drive Corridor Project. Every year the Preservation Alliance of Minne-
sota puts out a new list of endangered properties.
The Southeast St. Cloud Neighborhood Preserva-
tion Coalition is a local preservation advocacy
group that sprung up in response to the planned
road construction in our local area. At risk are
some of this neighborhood’s most identifiable and
historic sites including: Selke Field, Riverside
park, George Friedrich Park, Killian Boulevard
and the east side quarries area.
The four display boards they presented provided
the information on the projects; pictures for people to see the areas and buildings that
would be affected with this road project and contact resources for additional information.
We have provided an informational link for you below to check out on the computer.
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota website:
www.mnpreservation.org
(if you would like to know additional information )
You cannot raise a man up by
calling him down.
William Boetcker
Two Computers Donated!
Marge Nierengarten– Pictures of Sacred Heart– altar and church, bride & groom chair, pre-
siders chair and Barber’s Chair
Gery Hanscom– William Harris Descendants history
Ron Vierkant– Evelyn Vierkant roller skates, Trisian Milking stool, milking stool made by
Ron in ag-school
Cliff Johnson– Kelsey Rae CD. Foley lumber yardstick, Cookbooks-Sauk Rapids ultimate,
St. Augustine’s School, Al’s Music 2004, Headstart 1998, King Coin carwash keychain copy
of Sauk Rapids Courthouse postcard
Bernie Wesenberg– Shelf from Sacred Heart pew racks, beeswax candles used for Requiem
High Mass, Doily - used under statues
Anonymous– Boehm & Doehner advertising plate, Sauk Rapids Farmer Co-op Creamery
Pitcher advertising promotional item
Ed & Helen Maier– Swinger Land Camera, GE Vacuum Cleaner from the
40’s
Naomi Larsen Family– Oil bottle, 2 spice bottles, Two brown medicine bot-
tles, Mrs. Butterworth syrup container, Bi–Centennial Heinz
Ketchup bottle, Slate chalkboard for school
In the last issue of the newsletter we put out a highlighted request
to the community for the donation of two computers to Benton
County Historical Society Museum to expand our internal services.
Steve Warzecha of Sartell Sub Inc. answered that request with a
donation of two complete computers and a touch screen monitor!
One computer was installed in the research/resource area of the
Museum, which allows the database information, copier and inter-
net to be accessible for immediate and organized research to be
done! The second computer will replace one of the older computers
that cannot handle the information processing we are doing with
spreadsheets. Thank you Steve for serving the members better!
DONATIONS TO BCHS
Page 4 NewsLines
Thanks to Steve Warzecha & Sartell Sub Inc. for the
donation of two computers!
Thanks to all who donate!
Tours and Travel Research
Volunteers and Staff
We have been trying to get the flowerbeds back into shape around
here. It has been a slow process as we have been trying to get to it as
time would allow. We trimmed the bushes, weeded out the parking
lot and sprayed, and we were looking for volunteers to pull the two
bushes that had been overgrown and died in the front corner flower-
bed.
So, as we were busy in the Museum today with some people doing re-
search. I took a walk outside after our research people left and our
bushes were pulled out and gone! What a great surprise for us!
We have no idea who helped us out. There were only the tracks of a
vehicle on the grass, but to whoever helped us out– THANK YOU!
Now, with those out of the way, we can weed and trim the rest and
hopefully put something in there that is a bit more eye appealing!
Staff:
Mary Ostby– Executive Director
Meredith DePree– Office Support
Miles Christie– Office Support/
Military Support
Jack Toliver– Military Support
Fred Joesting– Research Special-
ist
Marjean Keehr– Research
Andy Schwalboski– Research &
Displays
Caren Kalenda– Oral Interviews/
Data Input
Lorane Walsh– Cemetery Sup-
port
Maureen Athman– Transcriber
Ron Zurek– Webmaster
Jenny De Wenter– Museum Sup-
port
John Stafney—Database Coordina-
tor
The Museum is always open from 10 am– 4pm Monday thru Friday
for research and organizational tours. If these hours do not work
for your organization, please give us a call at 253-9614 as we will be
happy to arrange an after hours time for your group or doing your
research! Just call a few days ahead and we will set times up for
you!
Thanks to our Anonymous Tree Remover!
What comes from the heart; goes to the heart….
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Page 5